The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-06-18

his shins upon the stove hearth, "bet- ter sell lem for beer, plaguey sight" Presently a strange munching sound came from the pantry, which con- tinued for some time. Then a chok- ing and coughing, followed by voice, which was hardly recognizable as be- longing to John.
 "Mary Jane, what ails this cab bage?"
 "What cabbage?" snaps a sleepy qoice from the bedroom.
 "Why, this here hot slaw in the big yaller bowl. Pve chawed and chawed and swallered and I can't find the end," spluttered the choking voice.
 "Goodness graciousp
 And Mrs. Lyon landed upon the floor with bound that shook the old building to it's very foundation.
 "Goodness gracious, John Lyon, do believe you're eatin' up my apron strings, I always told you something dretful would happen to you for bein' so contrary when wanted you to take off them pesky iron hoops on the pork barrel, cause I was forever switching my clothes agin 'em and gittin' em all rust" With giddy head she started to find the pantry, from which an oc- casional groan issued.
 q told Susan when she made them strings they was long enough to hang body, but what did she care if it was only style. Of course they had to fly agin them hoops and I put lem in bowl of oxolid-mercyfu good ness-John Lyon, why didn't you shet this door?"
 Poor Mrs. Lyon, with arms spread out before her, managed to find the door, but not with her groping hands, they had passed harmlessly by, one on one side and then the other on the op- posite side, and her nose had to do duty as feeler and not smeller this time.
 Anyway, 1 know where I be now if did have to find the way with my nose, as was sayin' I Iput them strings in bowl of oxolid acid and water to take out the rust, and now I do be- lieve you are tryin' to eat them and will get pizened to death."
 "Hurry, Mary Jane, come out from the darkness"
 There's crash, the stove door rings, the poker falls upon the floor, the cat springs from behind the stove with an unearthly meow, but amid all the din the most heart-rending sound pro- ceeds from the pantry, where poor John in an agony of fear keeps calling upon Mary Jane to "hurry."
 "John Lyon, are you fool or are you crazy? o my corn, um, um, wish to goodness that stove was in the bottom of the lake, and all the whisky in the univarse was burnt up! Do stop your hollerin', git hold of the other end and pull it out of your mouth, can't you?"
 "I cant seem to find it."
 Suddenly there's yell and crash The long wet strings have wound around the one barefoot, anl John with bound throws up his arms as he'string seems to hug and crawl up the ankle. 70, it's a snake, a snake, Mary Jane, it's crawlin' up my leg"
 ''Shut up, John, for mercy's sake; it ain't snake, say, it's my new white apron strings, as cut off and put in a bowl of oxolid acid. O, if I only had a light!"
 At this critical moment there was a creaking of the stairs as cautious foot steps approached and faint light crept through the door. It grew brighter and brighter as the door was pushed carefully and slowly open.
 Thad Lyon, wild-eyed and with towsled hair, holding in his trembling hand lighted candle, peered out into the darkness.
 "Mother," said he, in quavering tones, "has father got the tremens?"
 "The Lord only knows what he's got. Give me that candle and you go for the doctor as quick as ever you did"
 With one frightened glance toward the corner the boy darted out and was off like shot.
 Approaching the now prostate John, Mrs. Lyon began pulling upon the long wet strings which were tan gled about neck and feet. As she began to tighten upon the string to pull it off his neck he began to founder around shouting to "Mary Jane" to ''take it off"
 } "Now, John, don't be fool. Can't you see it's them strings" "Oh, it's snake, Q snakep Placing the candle upon an old stool near Johns head, Mrs. Lyon began in earnest to pull the strings, while she trembled so violently she could hardly work, for John, with staring eyes kept moaning, "Hurry, Mary Jane, oh, hurry } Suddenly throwing up his hand he hit the stool, when with a graceful bow, the candle dropped upon his